Cellular ad hoc phone extension system and method

ABSTRACT

A method of establishing a cooperative ad hoc network of phone extensions is implemented by the cellular devices within the ad hoc network. First, a first cellular device receiving an incoming call or placing an outgoing call is designated as the master of the ad hoc network and the remaining cellular devices are designated as slaves of the ad hoc network. Second, each cellular device is activated to enable multi-party connectivity by the first cellular device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to methods for establishing a cellular ad hoc network. More specifically, the present invention relates to an establishment of cooperative ad hoc network of cellular devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Currently, a cordless phone within a home offers freedom of movement for a user by being physically unattached to a phone jack. Multiple cordless phones and associated base stations can be strategically positioned throughout a home as long as the base stations are plugged into wire-line jacks that serve the home. This provides the convenience of having multiple phone extensions corresponding to a single phone number whereby a call can be answered in one of various locations within the home and multiple users can share in on call in progress. However, with families or roommates within a home having a single phone number, each cordless phone can only be part of an incoming call that is answered or an outgoing call that is placed.

[0003] The present invention advances the art by providing a method for establishing a cooperative ad hoc network of cellular devices to form a multiparty connection for sharing conversation and call control.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] One form of the present invention is a first method of operating an ad hoc network of cellular devices. First, a first cellular device receiving an incoming call or placing an outgoing call is designated as the master of the ad hoc network and the remaining cellular devices are designated as slaves of the ad hoc network. Second, each cellular device is activated to enable multi-party connectivity by the first cellular device.

[0005] The foregoing form and other forms as well as features and advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the invention rather than limiting, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary ad hoc network in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0007]FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart representative of an incoming call management method in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

[0008]FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a cellular device in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary ad hoc network 10 including four (4) cellular devices CD1-CD4 within a coverage area of the ad hoc network 10. The coverage area of the ad hoc network 10 is dependent upon an employment of a communication protocol between the cellular devices CD1-CD4 (e.g., Bluetooth, 802.11, etc.). For purposes of the facilitating an understanding of the remaining descriptions, Bluetooth will be assumed to provide the communication protocol between cellular devices CD1-CD4.

[0010] The ad hoc network 10 is established upon a communication by a primary network 20 (e.g., a wide area network or a local area network) of an incoming call directed to one of the cellular devices CD1-CD4 or an outgoing call placed by one of the cellular devices CD1-CD4. Upon such a communication, the ad hoc network 10 implements a call management method of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart 30 representative of the incoming call management method of the present invention. An implementation of the flowchart 20 facilitates an employment of the ad hoc network 10 as having multiple phone extensions.

[0011] During a stage S32 of the flowchart 30, one of the cellular devices CDICD4 is designated as a master of the ad hoc network 10 and the remaining cellular devices among the cellular devices CD1-CD4 are designated as slaves of the ad hoc network 10. In one embodiment of the stage S32, the cellular device among the cellular devices CD1-CD4 receiving the incoming call from the primary network 20 is designated as the master and the remaining cellular devices the remaining cellular devices among the cellular devices CD1-CD4 are designated as slaves of the ad hoc network 10. For purposes of the facilitating an understanding of the remaining description of the flowchart 30, the remaining stages of the flowchart 30 will be described whereby the cellular device CD1 was designated as master and the cellular devices CD2-CD4 were designated as slaves during the stage S32.

[0012] During a stage S34 of the flowchart 30, the cellular devices CD1-CD4 are activated to indicate a reception of the incoming call by the master cellular device CD1.

[0013] In one embodiment of the stage S34, an activation of each cellular device among the cellular devices CD1-CD4 that is powered on and in a passive state (i.e., not engaged in a call) is in the form of a ring by such cellular device(s), and an activation of each cellular device among the cellular devices CD1-CD4 that is powered on and in a active state (i.e., engaged in a call) is in the form of a call waiting tone by such cellular device(s).

[0014] During a stage S36 of the flowchart 30, the master cellular device CD1 determines if the incoming call was answered by a cellular device among the cellular devices CD1-CD4. The master cellular device CD1 proceeds to terminate the flowchart 30 if the incoming call was not answered prior to being released by the primary network 20, or upon an activation of an answering machine or a voice mail machine associated with the ad hoc network. Otherwise, the master cellular device CD1 proceeds to a stage S38 of the flowchart 30 to determine if it has received a request from one of the slave cellular devices CD2-CD4 to be a new master.

[0015] A first scenario involves an answering of the incoming call by the master cellular device CD1 or by one of the slave cellular devices CD2-CD4 that does not indicate a desire to become designated as the master of the ad hoc network 10. In the first scenario, the master cellular device CD1 proceeds to implement a trio of stages S42-S46 of the flowchart 40 in the sequence as illustrated in FIG. 2 or in any other sequence within the spirit of the present invention. During the stage S42, the master cellular device CD1 relays one or more call control functions to an answering slave, if any, among the slave cellular devices CD2-CD4. In one embodiment, the master cellular device CD1 relays all call control functions (e.g., call waiting, 3-way calling) to the answering slave except of the release call control function. For purposes of the facilitating an understanding of the remaining description of the flowchart 30, the remaining stages of the flowchart 30 under the first scenario will be described as if CD2 is the answering slave. During the stage S44, the master cellular device CD1 establishes a dedicated connection to the incoming call for the slave cellular devices CD3 and CD4 whereby the users of these cellular devices can selectively participate in the phone conversation. The dedicated connection includes a Bluetooth link for signaling and traffic between CD1 and any of the cellular devices CD2-CD4 that choose to participate in the conversation. During the stage S46, a copy of the traffic data from the incoming calling party (e.g. speech packets) intended for delivery to the master cellular device CD1 is relayed among each cellular device in the ad hoc network participating in the phone conversation. The master cellular device CD1 relays traffic data (e.g. speech packets) from each cellular device CD2-CD4 in the ad hoc network participating in the phone conversation to the calling party in the primary network.

[0016] A second scenario involves an answering of the incoming call by one of the slave cellular devices CD2-CD4 that indicates a desire to become designated as the master of the ad hoc network 10. In the second scenario, the master cellular device CD1 proceeds to implement four (4) stages S40-S46 of the flowchart 30 in the sequence as illustrated in FIG. 2 or in any other sequence within the spirit of the present invention. For purposes of the facilitating an understanding of the remaining description of the flowchart 30, the remaining stages of the flowchart 30 under the second scenario will be described as if the cellular device CD2 is the answering slave.

[0017] During the stage S40, the answering slave CD2 is designated a new master of the ad hoc network 10. In one embodiment, the cellular device CD1 receives a request from the answering slave CD2 to become the new master. During the stage S42, the cellular device CD1 transfers all call control functions to the new master CD2. In one embodiment, the cellular device CD1 negotiates such a transfer with the primary network 20. This can be accomplished through procedures implemented by anyone skilled in the art such as initially setting up a 3-party conference between CD1, CD2, and the calling party in the primary network, followed by the release of CD1 from the conference that results in a call transfer to CD2. Alternatively, a call transfer can be accomplished with the use of Signaling System #7 as defined by the CCITT Q.700 series specifications for call transfer between CD1 and CD2. In either case, the end result is the same. The primary network will move the connection between the calling party and CD1 to a connection between the calling party and CD2 while removing CD1 from a busy state to make it capable of receiving new calls and putting CD2 into a busy state to prevent it from receiving new calls, except with the use of call waiting. During the stage S44, the new master CD2 establishes a dedicated connection to the incoming call for the slave cellular devices CD1, CD3 and CD4 whereby the users of these cellular devices can selectively participate in the phone conversation. The dedicated connection includes a Bluetooth link for signaling and traffic between CD2 and any of the cellular devices CD1, CD3, and CD4 that choose to participate in the conversation. During the stage S46, a copy of the traffic data from the incoming calling party (e.g. speech packets) intended for delivery to the new master CD2 is relayed among each cellular device in the ad hoc network participating in the phone conversation. The master cellular device CD2 relays traffic data (e.g. speech packets) from each cellular device CD1, CD3, and CD4 in the ad hoc network participating in the phone conversation to the calling party in the primary network.

[0018] From the preceding description of the flowchart 30 illustrated in FIG. 2, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate various benefits of the present invention. One of the benefits is a cooperative ad hoc network of phone extensions.

[0019]FIG. 3 illustrates a wireless device 50. In addition to conventional ad hoc networking technology (e.g., Bluetooth), a cellular device 50 employing the present invention (further includes one or more software modules 51, one or more hardware modules 52, and/or a combination thereof with each module being designed as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to implement one or more stages of the illustrated flowcharts of FIG. 2 or alternative embodiments thereof within the spirit of the present invention.

[0020] The ad hoc network 10 (FIG. 1) was illustrated for purposes of describing an incoming call management of the present invention. The number of ad hoc network configurations employing the present invention is essentially limitless as will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art.

[0021] The terms “master”, and “slave” have established definitions within the preferred Bluetooth protocol. For purposes of the present invention, those established definitions are inclusive of the established definitions of counterpart terms within other protocols that may be utilized in an implementation of the present invention.

[0022] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

We claim:
 1. A method of operating an ad hoc network of cellular devices, said method comprising: designating a first cellular device receiving an incoming call as the master of the ad hoc network and the remaining cellular devices as slaves of the ad hoc network; and activating each cellular device to indicate a reception of the incoming call by the first cellular device.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: establishing a dedicated connection to the incoming call for each cellular device in response to an answering of the incoming call by one of the cellular devices.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: relaying speech packets among each cellular device participating in the incoming call subsequent to an answering of the incoming call by one of the cellular devices.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: relaying one or more call control functions between the first cellular device and a second cellular device in response an answering of the incoming call by the second cellular device.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: establishing a second cellular device as the master of the ad hoc network and the first cellular device as a slave of the ad hoc network subsequent to an answering of the incoming call by the second cellular device.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: establishing a dedicated connection to the incoming call for each cellular device in response to an answering of the incoming call by one of the cellular devices.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: relaying speech packets among each cellular device participating in the incoming call subsequent to an answering of the incoming call by one of the cellular devices.
 8. A system, comprising: a primary network; and a plurality of cellular devices operable to establish ad hoc network in communication with said primary network, wherein a first cellular device receiving an incoming call is designated as the master of said ad hoc network and the remaining cellular devices are designated as slaves of slave ad hoc network, and wherein each cellular device is activated to indicate a reception of the incoming call by said first cellular device.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein said first cellular device is operable to establish a dedicated connection to the incoming call for each cellular device in response to an answering of the incoming call by one of the cellular devices.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein said first cellular device is operable to relay speech packets among each cellular device participating in the incoming call subsequent to an answering of the incoming call by one of the cellular devices.
 11. The system of claim 8, wherein said first cellular device is operable to relay one or more call control functions between said first cellular device and a second cellular device in response an answering of the incoming call by said second cellular device.
 12. The system of claim 8, wherein said first cellular device is operable to establish a second cellular device as the master of the ad hoc network and said first cellular device as a slave of the ad hoc network subsequent to an answering of the incoming call by the second cellular device.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein said second cellular device is operable to establish a dedicated connection to the incoming call for each cellular device.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein said second cellular device is operable to relay speech packets among each cellular device participating in the incoming call.
 15. A cellular device, comprising: a first set of one or more modules operable to be designated as a master of an ad hoc network in response to a reception an incoming call; and a second set of one or more modules operable to activate one or more slave cellular devices of the ad hoc network to indicate a reception of the incoming call by said cellular device.
 16. The cellular device of claim 15, wherein said cellular device further includes a third set of one or more modules operable to establish a dedicated connection to the incoming call for each slave cellular device in response to an answering of the incoming call by said cellular device or by one of the slave cellular devices.
 17. The cellular device of claim 15, wherein said cellular device further includes a third set of one or more modules operable to relay speech packets among each slave cellular device participating in the incoming call subsequent to an answering of the incoming call by said cellular device or by one of the slave cellular devices.
 18. The cellular device of claim 15, wherein said cellular device further includes a third set of one or more modules operable to relay one or more call control functions between said cellular device and a slave cellular device in response to an answering of the incoming call by the slave cellular device. 